Effect of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy on Fundus Images and Retinal Microvessel Diameter in HIV/AIDS Patients.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether there were changes in fundus picture and retinal microvascularity of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) who were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods: From July 2015 to November 2016, 130 HIV/AIDS patients were collected by the Yunnan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, including 63 treatment-naïve patients and 67 that received HAART for 12 months. Fundus picture lesions, retinal microvascular diameters, CD4+ T lymphocyte count and HIV-1 plasma viral loads were compared between the two groups. The recruited patients were mainly young and middle-aged, with more males than females. There were no significant differences in smoking history, comorbidities and opportunistic infections between the two groups. Results: According to the analysis results from SPSS 20.0 software, the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes in the treated patients (563.34±2.56 cells/µL) increased significantly (P=0.009) as compared with untreated patients (451.37±2.10 cells/µL), and the HIV-1 plasma viral load reduced considerably (4794 vs 0 copy/mL, P=0.000). No significant differences were observed from the fundus picture of patients after effective HAART therapy, including the retinal artery diameter, venous diameter and arteriovenous diameter ratio.

Efficacy and safety of Xiyanping for COVID-2019: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.COVID-19 is highly pathogenic and infectious. COVID-19 epidemic is still spreading all over the world, and there is no sign of stopping at present. There is no specific cure for this disease, and the clinical management mainly depends on supportive treatment. Xiyanping is widely used in treating COVID-19 in China. However, there is no evidence that Xiyanping is effective and safe for COVID-19. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search will be conducted. Two methodological trained researchers will read the title, abstract, and full texts and independently select the qualified literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After assessment of the risk of bias and data extraction, we will conduct meta-analysis for outcomes related to COVID-19. The heterogeneity of data will be investigated by Cochrane X and I tests. Then publication bias assessment will be conducted by funnel plot analysis and Egger test. RESULTS: The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: Our study aims to systematically present the clinical evidence of Xiyanping in the treatment of COVID-19, which will be of guiding significance for further research and clinical practice. OPEN SCIENCE FRAMEWORK REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OFS.IO/SW75F.

The adverse effects of novel coronavirus on diabetic foot patients: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus in 2019, the number of new coronavirus infections worldwide has been increasing, there is no effective treatment or vaccine. Novel coronavirus infection is closely related todiabetes, the mortality of diabetes with novel coronavirus pneumonia is significantly higher than that of non diabetic with novel coronavirus pneumonia, Diabetic foot is one of the common and serious complications of diabetes, however, no systematic study on novel coronavirus pneumonia adverse effects on diabetic foot has been found at home and abroad, however, this is a problem that can not be ignored. METHODS: We will search each database from the built-in until April 2021. The English literature mainly searches Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, while the Chinese literature comes from CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wangfang database. Simultaneously we will retrieval clinical registration tests and grey literatures, and he researches related to the adverse effects of novel coronavirus on diabetic foot were collected, The 2 researchers worked independently on literature selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. The dichotomous data is represented by relative risk, and the continuous is expressed by mean difference or standard mean difference, eventually the data is synthesized using a fifixed effect model or a random effect model depending on whether or not heterogeneity exists. The primary outcome was clinical response rate, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. Secondary outcomes are mainly including mortality, amputation rate, wound healing time and nerve conduction velocity. Finally, meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan software version 5.3. RESULTS: The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. INPLASY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 202080113.

High operating temperature pBn barrier mid-wavelength infrared photodetectors and focal plane array based on InAs/InAsSb strained layer superlattices.

Improving the operation temperature of the focal plane array (FPA) imagers is critical in meeting the demands to reduce the size, weight, and power (SWaP) for mid-infrared detection systems. In this work, we report the demonstration of a 15 µm-pitch 640×512 middle-format pBn FPA device with a 50% cutoff wavelength of 4.8 µm based on short period of InAs/InAsSb-based "Ga-free" type-II strained-layer superlattices, which achieves a high operating temperature (HOT) reaching 185 K. The pBn FPA exhibits a mean noise equivalent differential temperature (NETD) of 39.5 mK and an operability of 99.6% by using f/2.0 optics for a 300 K background at 150 K. The mean quantum efficiency is 57.6% without antireflection coating and dark current density is 5.39×10-5 A/cm2 at an operation bias of -400 mV, by which the mean specific detectivity(D*) is calculated as high as 4.43×1011 cm.Hz½/W.

Correlations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms with the risk of hepatopulmonary syndrome in cirrhotic patients: A case-control study.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) increases the mortality of patients who suffered from liver cirrhosis, especially patients plagued by severe hypoxemia. Gene polymorphisms are reported to be related to the risk of HPS in cirrhotic patients. Thus, our study aims to elucidate the correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and HPS in cirrhotic patients. A total of 152 cirrhotic patients suffering from HPS as well as another 152 cirrhotic patients without HPS were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed for MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene polymorphisms and logistic regression analysis for the relationship between clinicopathological features and HPS occurrence in cirrhotic patients. There were significant differences in genotype and allele frequency of MMP-2 rs243865 and MMP-9 rs3918242 polymorphisms between the HPS and control groups. CC/CT genotype and C allele of MMP-2 rs243865 polymorphism as well as CC/TT genotype and T allele of MMP-9 rs3918242 polymorphism increased the risk of HPS in cirrhotic patients. Genotypes of rs243865 and rs3918242 polymorphisms had remarkable correlations with spider nevi, clubbed fingers (toes), transaminase elevation, portal vein width, esophageal varices, Child-Pugh classification and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2). Logistic regression analysis showed that rs243865 and rs3918242 polymorphisms, spider nevi, clubbed fingers (toes), esophageal varices, and Child-Pugh classification were closely associated with the occurrence of HPS in cirrhotic patients. Our findings demonstrate that MMP-2 rs243865 polymorphism and MMP-9 rs3918242 polymorphism can increase the risk of HPS occurrence in cirrhotic patients, which provides a potential target for prevention of HPS in cirrhotic patients.

Genetic polymorphisms in the FVII gene is associated with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis: A case-control study.

This study aims to explore the associations between FVII gene polymorphisms (R353Q, 5'F7, and -402G/A) and lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT) in a Chinese Han population. LEDVT patients (153) and healthy people (174) were, respectively, as case and control groups and evaluated related biochemical indicators. Gene polymorphisms of R353Q, 5'F7, and -402G/A of FVII, serum FVII level, antithrombin activity, plasma fibrinogen content, and plasma D-dimer (D-D) level were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), ELISA, chromogenic substrate assay, coagulating assay, and Immunoturbidimetry assay, respectively. Compared with the control group, the case group had a higher level of body mass index (BMI), glucose, and fibrinogen, and lower level of total cholesterol (TC). Notable differences were found in GG genotype, G and A alleles, as well as distribution of recessive model of -402G/A. The serum FVII level of GG genotype was higher than that of GA and AA genotypes. FIB and D-D had a higher level had a lower level in GG genotype when compared with GA and AA genotypes. Smoking, drinking, serum FVII level, and -402G/A-GG were the independent risk factors for LEDVT. This study demonstrates that -402G/A of FVII may be a risk factor for LEDVT patients in a Chinese Han population.